My Research

Context

The following abstract and dissertation was conducted as part of a Research led Masters Programme at the University of Essex (MSc by Dissertation), in the UK. At present this research has not been published but it is hoped that that the appropriate journal will find it worthy of publication.

Abstract

The contemporary western academic environment seems replete with stress and pressure on both sides of the service. Staff members suffer burnout; pupils lack discipline and show increasing levels of unhappiness and discontent within their lives. The Three Principles of Mind, Consciousness, and Thought are a possible solution to these issues and were the basis of application for this study. As a working model there has been little scientific research carried out. That which has been documented shows promising results, yet much of what has been reported points towards the need for further research. The aim of this study was to test the effectiveness of the Three Principles as a means of increasing the psychological well-being for staff and pupils working together. It was conducted as a sixteen week pre, post and follow-up study using the Friedman Well-Being Scale as a measure of psychological well-being, analysed using Paired T-tests. The study was divided into two eight week periods, carried out in a local Essex high school, where the staff and pupils involved received the Principle Based Model as a psychoeducational understanding. During the follow-up period after the sixteen weeks of intervention, six members of staff and one pupil were interviewed, and the transcripts were analysed using Thematic Analysis. The quantitative data pre to post findings for all participants (N=18) showed an overall increase in psychological well-being of 17% in the mean scores, with the Friedman subscale of Happiness, showing a 28% increase. The qualitative post study data produced two main themes: personal changes and reduced stress both of which augment the primary quantitative findings. The project provides some encouraging evidence to suggest the Three Principles may be a useful tool for schools to utilise in attempting to increase psychological well-being.